Water at last! - Member of Parliament among residents getting piped water for the first time

Franklyn Witter, perhaps the only member of parliament who did not have piped water in his house, now has a change of circumstances.

The South East, St Elizabeth, representative, who lives in Litipz, said that he is now able to turn on the taps in his house, thanks to the the Essex Valley Water supply that will be commissioned into service by Prime Minister Andrew Holness today.

"I did not have water in my pipe for all those years. I had to buy water from the water truck. I am feeling very good because I have made representation from its initial stage and now it has materialised. I am happy that when the project started I was the MP then, and now that we are in the process of commissioning supply I am still the MP. I am happy," he said.

The project, which was conceptualised in 2001 through the Bauxite Community Council, did not materialise until 2009. Since then more than $200million has been spent laying pipes and digging wells.

"In the initial stage, it will serve about 10 communities and we are planning to extend it to another 10. We have put in the wells and pipelines so we are going to turn on now for those who have pipes and we are continuing to lay pipes for the other communities," he said.

Witter, who represents a marginal seat, believes that Essex Valley Water supply will help him retain the constituency when the next general elections are held.

"Well, I was there at the beginning and now I'm at the end, I am happy and I believe it will cement my position in the seat, I have no doubt about that. Everybody is thankful and I feel very humbled to know that I was able to make representation and have successful gotten water for that community," he said.